Things to do in San Antonio This Month: October 2018

Mala Luna Music Fest, Museum Month, Chalk It Up!, Halloween fun and more

By Kathleen Petty

Chalk it Up!

Oct. 13

Now in its 15th year, this public art fest showcases intricate, original chalk murals created along Houston Street by local professional artists plus art by area students. There’s also live music, food trucks and activities for kids. Find your favorite mural and use it as inspiration for your own masterpiece—chalk will be available throughout the fest so locals can draw everything from stick figures to landscapes and portraits. artpace.org

On the Trail of Big Cats

Oct. 7

Travel to the far reaches of Myanmar and into the rainforests of Brazil through photographs taken by Steve Winter, who’s worked with National Geographic for over 25 years and has been named BBC Wildlife Photographer and Photojournalist of the Year. In On the Trail of Big Cats, Winter opens a series of three National Geographic Live events scheduled at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts during the 2018-19 season (Exploring Mars is Feb. 10 and A Rare Look: North Korea to Cuba is March 31). Along with showcasing images the big cat photographer has captured during his decades of international travel, he’ll share stories about the animals, provide insights into his craft and delve into conservation issues that are impacting some of the jaguars, lions and other cats he’s caught on film. tobincenter.org

Mala Luna Music Festival

Oct. 27-28

Without the Mala Luna Music Fest, the Network for Young Artists (NYA) wouldn’t have been able to stay in its facility, says executive director Diana Arevalo, who is also a state rep for District 116. The nonprofit that provides affordable music and arts lessons to youth was awarded $15,000 from the festival’s profits after its first year—enough to pay rent and set them on a course for expansion, says Arevalo, who is in the process of adding mariachi, songwriting and additional dance offerings. “Mala Luna was our saving grace,” she says. Now in its third year, the festival continues to support NYA financially. Equally important, says Arevalo, is that it allows NYA students to audition for the chance to perform at Mala Luna, which this year is at Wolff Stadium and will feature headliners like Cardi B, Nicky Jam and Tyler, The Creator. malalunamusicfestival.com

3 Comedy Shows to Get You Laughing

Oct. 5-7: Pauly Shore

LOL San Antonio

Oct. 19: Paula Poundstone

Empire Theatre

Oct. 25-27: One Funny Mother

Tobin Center | Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater

3 Options for Family Fun

Oct. 2: Free Family Night

The DoSeum

Oct. 6: Tree-Centennial Fest

Phil Hardberger Park West

Oct. 12: Hotel Transylvania

Tobin Center| Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza

5 Concerts to See

Oct. 3: Mat Kearney with Atlas Genius

The Aztec Theatre

Oct. 4: Jamie Lin Wilson Album Release

Sam’s Burger Joint

Oct. 14: MercyMe

Freeman Coliseum

Oct. 24: The B-52s

Tobin Center

Oct. 29: Maxwell

Majestic Theatre​

Museum Month by the Numbers

12 Institutions

Members of any of the 12 organizations participating in Museum Month can receive free admission for two to any of the other museums during the month of October.

4 Exhibits

While nearly every participating museum will have special exhibitions on display, there are several new exhibits opening in conjunction with Museum Month. At the McNay Art Museum, Pop América, featuring Latin American pop art, opens Oct. 4 (and runs through Jan. 13). The San Antonio Museum of Art debuts Becoming John Marin: Modernist at Work (pictured) on Oct. 27 (it’s open until Jan. 20). At Blue Star Contemporary, several new exhibitions open on Oct. 4, including Gesamtkunstwerk, which features work by Jesse Amado.

3 Transportation Options

VIA’s VIVA route drops guests off at several museums, including the McNay Art Museum, and it’s free every Saturday this month. SWell Cycle gives you the chance to ride between museums while Go Rio shuttle boats have stops near the San Antonio Museum of Art, Artpace and the Briscoe Western Art Museum. museummonthsa.org

Pick a Classical Concert

The Return of Hadelich

Oct. 12-13

The San Antonio Symphony is bringing back Augustin Hadelich, a Grammy-winning violinist, to play Dvorák’s “Violin Concerto in A minor” at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. “Overture” from Smetana’s The Bartered Bride also will be performed. Know a student? This concert is one of a handful during which youth can attend the Friday rehearsal to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the music comes together. sasymphony.org

New York Stories | YOSA

Oct. 28

Also at the Tobin Center, this concert opens Youth Orchestras of San Antonio’s season with tunes from Leonard Bernstein’s ballet Fancy Free plus songs from West Side Story. Thomas Steigerwald will accompany YOSA’s Philharmonic group on the piano. yosa.org